Ahmed Best Biography

Ahmed Best is the African-American actor, musician and dancer from the theater troupe Stomp who was chosen by George Lucas to play Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999, co-starring Ewan McGregor). Best did the voice and was the model for the computer generated character that has been an object of scorn and controversy: Lucas was accused of using a racial stereotype in his depiction of Jar Jar, who provides comic relief and speaks pidgin English with a sort-of Jamaican accent. Lucas dismissed the accusations, pointing out that Jar Jar is a fictional orange amphibian from the planet Gungan. Best also voiced Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars films Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), and the animated spin-off Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008).